Tennessee State Representative Justin Pearson, a prominent member of the “Tennessee Three,” has officially launched a primary challenge against veteran Democratic Congressman Steve Cohen for the state’s 9th Congressional District seat.
The 2026 contest pits a nationally recognized young progressive voice against a longtime Democratic fixture in what is shaping up to be a defining test of generational shift within the Democratic Party.
Justin Pearson rose to prominence demanding stronger gun control legislation
Pearson, 30, rose to national prominence in 2023 after he and fellow Democratic Representative Justin Jones, both Black, were expelled—and later reinstated—by the Republican-led state House for protesting on the chamber floor to demand stronger gun control legislation following the Covenant School shooting in Nashville.
This act, and the subsequent political uproar, catapulted Pearson onto the national stage, garnering him immense media attention and a meeting with then-Vice President Kamala Harris.
Now, Pearson is aiming for Washington, D.C., arguing that the majority-Black Memphis district needs new, more urgent leadership.
“For too long, our district has been told to ‘keep going’ with the same leadership and the same outcomes, even as Memphis’s poverty rate… is nearly double the rate for all Tennesseans,” Pearson said in a statement. His progressive platform focuses on issues like federal investment to combat poverty and crime, affordable housing, accessible health care, and strong gun control laws.
Pearson’s opponent has held 9th District seat since 2007
His opponent, Steve Cohen, 76, is a seasoned politician who has represented the deep-blue 9th District since 2007. Cohen, who served for over two decades in the Tennessee State Senate before his election to Congress, is known as a consistent liberal vote in the U.S. House.
He has steered federal funding toward key Memphis institutions and has been a reliable Democratic vote on issues like the Affordable Care Act and abortion rights. Cohen plans to run for re-election, stressing that his experience and institutional knowledge are vital in a challenging political climate.
The primary race, scheduled for August 2026, represents a microcosm of the larger tensions in the national Democratic Party between the older guard and a wave of young, activist progressives.
Pearson’s campaign has already attracted the support of progressive groups like Justice Democrats and Leaders We Deserve, the latter of which pledged substantial financial support, signaling a serious, well-funded challenge.
Moreover, while the 9th Congressional District is a solid Democratic stronghold, virtually ensuring the primary winner will prevail in the general election, the Cohen-Pearson battle will highlight differing approaches to leadership.
Furthermore, Pearson, a former environmental justice activist, frames the race as a fight for a “new vision” that matches the “urgency our people deserve.” Cohen, who has successfully fought off previous primary challengers, believes his seniority and legislative track record speak for themselves.
This high-profile contest is set to be one of the most closely watched Democratic primaries in the 2026 midterm cycle.